Celia's House Read Free Page B

that?” he asked.
    â€œMy dear boy, everybody knows everything here; it goes around and around and comes back to me in the end. Sometimes I would rather not hear, but you can’t close your ears. Pour me out another cup of tea.”
    He rose and poured it out for her and was glad of the occupation, for it was extremely difficult to know what to say.
    â€œWhat do you think of the idea?” she asked as she took the cup. “How do you think the lawn would look cut up into round beds full of geraniums and lobelias?”
    He looked out over the lawn; it was green and smooth as velvet, sloping gently down to the line of tall stately trees. Beneath the trees was a carpet of wild hyacinths, blue as the sea on a summer’s day. “I think it would be horrible,” he said gravely.
    â€œHorrible,” she agreed, nodding vehemently. “It would change the character of the place. The sweep of grass leads the eye to the trees and the hills beyond. Fussy beds of flowers would spoil the whole effect…and that’s one of the reasons,” she continued, smiling at him. “That’s one of the reasons—but only one of the reasons—why I’ve decided not to leave Dunnian to Maurice. I shall leave it to you instead.”
    There was complete silence. Humphrey was so amazed, so taken aback, so flabbergasted, that he could find nothing to say. He sat down heavily and stared at Miss Dunne with his mouth half open.
    She laughed and exclaimed, “If only you could see your face!”
    â€œTo me ?” he asked, finding his voice with difficulty.
    â€œYou’re fond of Dunnian, aren’t you?”
    â€œIt’s the most beautiful place in the world,” Humphrey declared with pardonable exaggeration.
    â€œWell then, that’s settled.”
    â€œAunt Celia, you don’t really mean it?”
    â€œThis isn’t the first of April, Humphrey.”
    â€œI thought,” he began. “I thought Maurice was your—”
    â€œListen to me,” said Miss Dunne, holding up her hand to stop him. “Listen to me, Humphrey. Everyone has always taken it for granted that Maurice would have Dunnian when I was dead; it’s true that he’s Willie’s son and Willie was my eldest brother, but that doesn’t seem much of a reason to me. Dunnian isn’t entailed—I shouldn’t be here now if it had been entailed.”
    â€œNo, I suppose not,” Humphrey said with a bewildered air.
    â€œDunnian belongs to me and I can do exactly what I like with it; I could leave it to an animal shelter if I wanted. The money will go with the place, of course. You’ll need it to keep Dunnian as it should be kept. Your pay wouldn’t go very far.”
    â€œNo,” Humphrey said in a dazed voice.
    â€œThere’s no need for you to retire,” she continued. “In fact, I think it would be a mistake. You can settle your family here and make it your home. I shall want your assurance that you will make it your home, Humphrey. Dunnian must not be shut up or let to strangers.”
    He was beginning to realize that she really meant it. She had thought it all out. “Aunt Celia, I can’t believe it,” he said in a low voice.
    â€œYou’ll get used to the idea,” she told him. “Oh yes, you will. You can walk about and accustom yourself to the idea…but be careful what you say in front of the servants; I don’t want it to leak out. Maurice will hear about it soon enough when I’m in my grave.” She hesitated and then continued, “It isn’t a sudden decision, Humphrey. I’ve thought about it a great deal. Dunnian means a lot to me—it’s my best friend. I’ve outlived all my human friends. I want someone who loves the place to have it when I’m gone.”
    â€œI shall love it,” he said gravely.
    She nodded. “I know. I know you will—and your children will grow